Report: Rick Pitino says Adidas exec reached out to him to ask about recruiting Brian Bowen

In an interview with Jay Bilas on ESPN former Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino is asked how he feels he was treated by the University of Louisville
Video courtesy of ESPN

Former Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino talks to reporters during a news conference in New York, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. Pitino held the news conference in the wake of an NCAA decision in a sex scandal case that strips the Cardinals program of 123 victories, a national championship and $600,000 in post-season revenue. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)(Photo: Seth Wenig, AP)

Transcripts of a voicemail provided to The Washington Post by Pitino's lawyers show Gatto phoned Pitino on May 27, the day before Bowen was to visit Louisville as an uncommitted prospect, and said "I just got a call about a player I want to discuss with you."

Pitino reportedly returned the call and Gatto asked if Pitino was interested in recruiting Bowen.

“I said, ‘Yeah ... why do you ask?’" Pitino told The Washington Post. "He said, ‘Because I know some of the people in the family, and I could put in some good words for you ’ ... That was it."

Pitino said Wednesday via text message that most of those discussions with Gatto were about Rozier's deal and spent about "20 (seconds)" talking about Bowen.

The FBI said Gatto had phone conversations on May 27 with a phone number used by "Coach 2" (confirmed to be Pitino) and another on June 1.

According to information provided the Post, Gatto called Pitino on June 1 to congratulate him on Bowen's addition, saying "I'm excited for your guys." Pitino said he didn't return the call and texted the night day asking for a pair of Yeezys, Kanye West's Adidas shoe.

“For recruiting,” Pitino told the Post. “My longest conversations with Gatto have been about the Yeezys, which he could never get for me.”

Gatto was indicted in the FBI's investigation into college basketball recruiting, which focused on Bowen's recruitment. The FBI's complaint detailed allegations that Gatto and others were part of a scheme to attempt to pay Bowen's family $100,000 in order for him to attend Louisville. The revelations ultimately led to Pitino being fired by Louisville last year.

“I’m not on any wiretap. There’s not a shred of evidence that I did anything wrong," Pitino told the Post. "... I have my faults, like we all do ... but I’ve never cheated to get a player.”

Pitino went on to blame former assistant coaches for transgressions, saying that "I hired the wrong people" at Louisville.

Among the text message transcripts Pitino provided the Post was an exchange with sports agent Christian Dawkins, who was also indicted in the alleged conspiracy. Dawkins reportedly texted Pitino the night of May 23 asking if he would be interested in recruiting Bowen.

One minute later, Pitino reportedly texted assistant coach — and later Louisville's interim head coach — David Padgett and asked who Bowen was.

Padgett replied, "Top ranked uncommitted player left in the 2017 class," according to The Washington Post, which reported that Pitino then texted Dawkins that Louisville would "love to have him" and had a phone conversation with Dawkins about Bowen.

From there, Bowen's recruitment included a May 28 dinner with Pitino, Dawkins and Bowen's family at Griff's restaurant in Louisville. The Bowens paid for the visit and meal as Louisville had used up its allotted official visits, Pitino told the Post.

Bowen ended up enrolling at Louisville. Meanwhile, the FBI was investigating alleged conversations to arrange payment to Bowen's father, and on Sept. 26, the FBI arrested 10 people as a part of its investigation into college basketball, including Gatto and Dawkins.

That day, Pitino's executive assistant told him, "Coach, we got a problem. The FBI just stopped Jordan Fair at the airport," according to the Post.

Pitino told the Post that Fair told him last September that AAU program director Jonathan Brad Augustine had invited him to a meeting in a hotel room.

The FBI complaint describes such a meeting involving a scheme involving recruitment of another player in addition to Bowen, though Pitino said Fair told him, "I saw an envelope in the table, so I left the room right away."

"That's what he told me," Pitino told the Post. "And I screamed at him."